This contest is over.  The winner is Michelle. Congrats!

Every so often a product comes out that I seriously don’t know how I lived without it.  The SmartShopper is that product for me.  I can’t tell you how many times I have been working on a shopping list to have it disappear to who knows where.  Then I have to restart my list, and I have no idea what was on there.  I also have had my list walk off with little children who are trying to help (even though they don’t know how to read and write).  Now, if you have kids, you all know what I am talking about.  However, the SmartShopper really is my answer to this.  The SmartShopper is an automated grocery organizer that allows you to add items to your shopping list by simply speaking into it. Yes, it is seriously that easy. You can edit and customize your SmartShopper using the easy-to-read LED display, and SmartShopper will automatically sort your items alphabetically. Now, there are 2,500 things already listed in here that are categorized. There is going to be something you need that isn’t listed. No problem. You can easily add your custom entries. The best part: when you are ready to go grocery shopping, hit the button that says print. It will print you your list printed out into categories!  You have no idea how much time this saves me.  I use to make my list and then rewrite it that way!  You can also wall mount this or stick it on your refrigerator (which is what I did).  I literally just walk around the kitchen and figure out what we need.  I hit record, say the item, select the item it thinks I said, and then repeat. That’s it! Now, if you are interested in purchasing a SmartShopper can use the exclusive code LM12398 until December 31 to receive $5 off your order. Also, all orders placed between now and December 31 will receive free ground shipping (although be sure to order before December 18, if you want the SmartShopper by Christmas).

Now, if you’d like to win one of these for yourself (or someone else), here’s what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment on this post. I want to know what feature the SmartShopper has that you love.
2. Twitter about this contest. Please leave me your username so I can verify.
3. Stumble this post. If you don’t know what Stumble Upon is, please read Lori’s post at Blogging Cents. She explains it extremely well.
4. Add this post to other social media sites like Digg, Kirtsy, Blogging Zoom, Reddit, Propeller, Etc.

For 5 additional entries,

1. Blog about this on your blog. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
2. Add this to any forums you belong too. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
3. Subscribe to this blog using either my email or RSS feed
4. Add my badge to your sidebar:

<a href="http://lisacooking.com"><img src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/blm03_photos/125ad.png" border="0" alt="Lisa Cooking" /></a>

Good luck! This contest will end December 16, 2008 at 8:00 PM CST and is for US residents only.

Now, you know I like to pass along tips (like my tip of the day feature I do daily).  If any of you are food bloggers (and I know several of you are), you definitely need to check out Dragon Naturally Speaking (and the Mac version is called Dictate.  Since I have a PC, I own Dragon Naturally Speaking).  I know you are asking yourself why?  Well, this software has literally made writing posts for this blog ten times easier!

How many times have you found yourself writing yourself notes on recipes that you are making?  I know I do this all the time — especially when I am modifying a recipe for my family.  I also find myself writing notes that I want to include on my posts on the recipe itself.  Wouldn’t life be easier if you could dictate this recipe while you were cooking it?  Wouldn’t it be great to be able to add your notes when you were making the recipe instead of having to remember them?  I can’t tell you how much time I have saved using this software. Want to see how easy this is to use?

Now, if he can use it on a windy day, you can use it in your kitchen. I use mine with screaming children in the background with no problems (note: if you accidentally swear, because you burned yourself it, it will record those words down. Not that I know this from experience or anything). I am writing this post right now with Dragon Naturally Speaking, and my children are right here playing like they normally do. Now, I have a wired headset for my computer. I just keep everything right next to the stove, so I can keep the headset on and cook. However, you can buy Bluetooth headsets, and will not have that problem! Oh yeah, and instead of typing what you normally do (if you don’t know, check out Dragon’s typing speed test), you can be typing around 150 words per minute. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Watch the difference:

Amazing, isn’t it? Now, there are so many more uses that you can use this for in your home. You don’t need a cooking blog to make use of this. I have four other blogs I use this on. I also am able to answer emails, IMs, and even making out my grocery shopping list! What uses for this would you have in your house?